Brigitte Helm West

Anneliese Helm was born in Mannheim, Germany on November 20, 1928, as the only child of elderly parents. She was nicknamed “Brigitte” by family and friends after a famous German film star of the ‘30s. She attended local schools including an exclusive all-girls high school. However, when World War II erupted, the high school removed itself, faculty, students and staff, to a campus near the Swiss border. During the war her father passed away and after Germany’s defeat she and her mother found themselves in straitened circumstances. They lived with a cousin and her doctor husband, and Brigitte helped look after the couple’s young child.

In the early ‘50s she took her first trip to the States, and, in 1953, she moved to Berkeley on the invitation of a friend. Taking the ferry to San Francisco each morning, she worked at The Bank of America answering customer phone calls. Later in life she joked that she was sure she confused many customers with her thick German accent. In 1955 she met William West, then a resident doctor in Castro Valley, and they married in 1957, after he established a practice in Stockton.

Brigitte loved living in California, the ease and warmth of its people and climate being the main attractions. She loved travelling with her husband to medical conventions all over the world and hosting summer parties in the backyard of their home on Park Woods. She was a member of Hadassah of Temple Israel and was semi-legendary for baking a huge number of Linzer tortes for the Temple’s annual food fair. She was beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother known for her easy laugh, strong wit and surprising and surprisingly effective vocabulary.

Brigitte passed away in early June after a brief illness. She was preceded by her beloved daughter, Annette, who passed away 2 years ago. She is survived by Annette’s children, Brian and Laura Eiselman, and their father Robert Eiselman. She leaves behind her husband of 69 years, Dr. William X. West of Stockton and her son Rick and his wife Katerina and their children, David (Andrea), Anna (Jeremy Kramer), and Veronica. She also leaves her great granddaughters, Emma West (Blondie) and Josie Kramer (Blue Eyes).

Brigitte’s family would like to thank their neighbors of over 55 years, Dr. Wade Lang and his late wife Penny, and neighbors Mark Evans and Vicky Fuentez for all their love and support. The family also extends their utmost gratitude and love to Jamie Tomasi, the couple’s principal caretaker of the last 3 years. No services for Brigitte are currently pending.